Brock,

Great discussion theme!  UCMJ and its application can have wide reaching impact on an organization’s culture.  As a young E4 I remember a buddy getting an Article 15.  Looking back it was justified and correct but what still galls me is that an NCO did the same thing and was just counseled.  When I challenged my leadership about this inequality I was told “The NCO has a career to consider, the E4 doesn’t”.  To this day the thing that bothers me is that the E4, who did get out and was otherwise a good soldier who made a stupid decision, that Article 15 was a defining moment.  He acknowledged he did wrong but the fact that the “system” seemed out to get him drove him out of the service.  I look back on that event and think about the really smart and otherwise good soldier we lost.  I think he would have been an awesome platoon sergeant one day.  But instead we have another four year veteran.  The leadership team forgot that every enlisted soldier started out as an E1 and did time as an E4.

As a commander I’ve had to discipline soldiers and I’ve reduced soldiers.  I’ve had career spanning impact on their careers.  But I’ve made it a point to be consistent with my application.  I avoid the “different spanks for different ranks” mentality.

Perhaps the best example of maintaining good order and discipline I ever saw came from a COL.  She was the best boss I’ve ever worked for.  A buddy made a mistake, he was transporting a patient in a new civilian ambulance.  He went to take a patient to a nursing home.  The new ambulances had a forward mounted AC unit that sat just about 6 inches higher raising the minimum height which none us us knew.  As he tried to pull under a brick overhang we always cleared before, he hit it.  He wasn’t going fast but it was a big jerk and jolted everyone.  One of the nurses at the facility came out and started yelling at him and calling him names.  He lost his bearing and told her to “Shut the ^&*# up”.  Needless to say a phone call beat him back.  Our PSG, 1SG, MAJ and several LTs who I never met awaited his return.  The language they used made his slip up seem tame.  We were certain he was on his way to an Article 15, loss of pay and rank on top of whatever the FLIPL hit him with.  Finally, along came COL Williams.  She asked calmly what happened and why did he lose his bearing.  Asked if he understood why he was wrong and what he should have done.  Then she told him to write an apology and the two them, COL Williams and my buddy, would go to the nursing home and deliver an apology in person.  What a difference in approach.  I’m sure COL Williams has no idea what a profound impact that had on me as a young soldier.  I hope I do as well in keeping order and discipline 1/2 as well as she did.